مشكلة النمر

by Diane Goode

A full-grown tiger might make a great best friend, but not every landlord wants to house one. Especially a crotchety, evil-looking old guy like Mr. Mildew Mud, who just bought the building at 33 River Street, where Jack and his Bengal best pal, Lily, live.

Jack and tiger Lily do everything together: stickball, tug-of-war, swinging, swimming in the river. But when canine-loving Mr. Mud and his bulldog, Fifi, move in, all the cats in the building get the bum's rush, including—especially--Lily. ("That cat could scare someone!" cried Mr. Mud. "I want her gone by morning!") What are their rights? What can they do? Jack and Lily hit the books, studying everything from passive resistance to the life of Houdini (maybe they can make Mud disappear!). But it's a stroke of bad luck that gives Lily a chance to win over Mr. Mud--and maybe even Fifi.

New York-born Diane Goode seems right at home in 1930s Gotham, and her carefree kids and softly drawn, colorful details recall her excellent work on the Caldecott Honor-winning When I Was Young in the Mountains. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Humor, Fiction

Paperback

About the author

Caldecott Honor children's book author/illustrator of over 55 picture books.

Reviews

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a humorous little fantasy about a boy and his tiger. (Make sure it stays in the fantasy realm, though--please don't be inspired to keep an actual tiger in an apartment.) The storyline is pretty familiar though; it's nothing new in the world of kids' entertainment.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kids liked the pictures and the cats. But not really the story so much.

[Jess El-Zeftawy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just want to say that I appreciate that the bulldog's name it Fifi and not the usual Winston or Spike. It was a little unexpected and fun.

[Kathryn Baron · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming nicely illustrated picture book. It's just as well it wasn't part of my childhood catalogue —I would definitely wanted my own tiger.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and a little humorous in the idea of the story. A good filler in a storytime. Some of the illustration humor might get lost to a storytime crowd, but I don't think that would be detrimental. And what child wouldn't love the idea of a well-behaved, well-beloved pet tiger?

P.S. Love the tiger's full name!

4/19/10 I thought this was a good bedtime story with an easy plot and a smile, so I used it as my opener in PJ storytime. I think it worked well. It held the group's attention, even if the group was very small. I think it will still work for a preschool group, too.

10/10/12 & 10/11/12: This was a good filler in the middle of my Cats & Dogs preschool theme. It was a solid story that interested the kids. The illustrations were over their heads as far as the time period. But their faces were classic when I asked if they'd like a tiger for a pet.

[Elizabeth S · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a treasure. Sure, the basic plot is nothing new--prejudiced authority figure doesn't like given animal, somehow given animal saves the day and authority figure's opinions are overcome. The fun part is putting a tiger in the mix. As if there is nothing all that unusual about having a tiger for a pet and best friend. The pictures, of course, are wonderfully clever and work so well with the text. I enjoyed willingly suspending my disbelief that the big argument against a tiger for a neighbor is not because it is a wild animal, a carnivore, belongs-in-a-zoo, or anything. The anti-tiger people merely don't like cats. Totally tickles me.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack and his tiger, Lily lived at #33 River Street, and did every thing together. When Mr. Mildew Mud, who doesn't like cats of any kind, buys the building and wants Lily gone by the next morning Jack and Lily find themselves in a fix. But fate intervenes, and Mr. Mud has a change of heart.

[Lisa Mundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Diane Goode did an amazing job. I love the illustrations and its just a super book.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun story with a happy ending. Both myself and the kids thought it was a little too short.

[James Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the library. Nice story.

[June · Rating 2 out of 5]

At least it's short and doesn't take long to read aloud.